June 2010

CHRIST CRUCIFIED, CHRIST’S resurrection is NOT just a fact. It is an irrevocable, unchangeable, unalterable ETERNAL TRUTH. The fact that JESUS came alive again from the dead PROMISES and GUARANTEES our resurrection. In John 6:40, Jesus said of those who believe in HIM, “I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” And HE repeated that promise (II Cor. 1:20) at least 3 more times in verses 39-54 of this chapter. In the Upper Room JESUS told the disciples, “Because I live, you will live also.” (John 14:19). Why did CHRIST emphasize HIS resurrection so much?

FIRST: He wanted us to have the absolute assurance of life after death. Even though we may die & our bodies are put in the ground, because of JESUS, we will live again.

SECOND: The promise of the resurrection is COMFORT in the presence of death. When you & I have the sad task of placing one of our loved ones before an altar in a casket, the one thing our grieving hearts want to know above everything else is, “Will we see each other again?” For believers in CHRIST, the Bible answers with a glorious, ETERNAL YES! I Thes. 4:14 says, n“ Death is NOT the end for the Christian.”

THIRD: The promise of resurrection is to encourage us to be faithful to JESUS until death. The resurrection is a Reminder that we’re going to give an account to GOD for our life (Rom. 14:10 & 12) and we’re going to be rewarded for the life that we’ve lived. l also want you to see that our resurrected bodies will be gloriously different than the weak failing bodies we have now! I Cor. 5:42-44 is very clear. READ IT. What kind of body will we have in the resurrection? A body that will NOT wear out or grow old. One that will NOT be subject to sickness, but will be healthy & strong for all eternity. And most of all, it will be a body that cannot be corrupted by sin, so we will be able to magnify &glorify the living GOD the way we were created to do! Praise & thank the LORD. That’s exactly what Paul did, “Thanks be to GOD, who gives us the victory through our LORD JESUS CHRIST.”

PRAISE and GRATITUDE should be a daily response to the resurrection. A second response we should have is the desire for a life of service to the LORD. In I Cor. 15:58, Paul said, “Therefore, be stead-fast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the LORD, knowing that your toil is NOT in vain in the LORD.” (Matt. 20:28; Mk. 10:45). After all JESUS has done for us, is doing & is going to do for us, how can we NOT pour out our lives in grateful, loving, faithful service to the living GOD? My encouragement to you is be steadfast in serving CHRIST. Be immovable. Set your mind on obeying & serving GOD, and abounding in HIS work, always ready to give more & do more. And when JESUS returns (I Thes. 4:14-17), HE will give you a new body, reward your faithfulness & take you to be with HIM in glory.